HSI campaigning to protect biodiversity hotspots

British biologist Professor Norman Myers introduced the concept of biodiversity hotspots in 1988 as a tool to prioritise biodiversity conservation efforts. They are the places on earth that are richest in biodiversity but also the most threatened.

At the global scale, Conservation International has identified 25 biodiversity hotspots which collectively hold 44% of the world' s plants and 35% of terrestrial vertebrates in an area that formerly covered only 11.8% of the planet' s surface.

Australia is home to one of the world' s biodiversity hotspots - southwest Australia. Other hotspots include the Tropical Andes, Madagascar, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Sundaland (Peninsula Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo).

Humane Society International (HSI) has been helping the global conservation effort to save biodiversity hotspots. In 2003, with help from former Senator Meg Lees, HSI persuaded the Prime Minister of Australia to establish a $10 million Regional Natural Heritage Program (RNHP) to give grants to conservation projects in the global biodiversity hotspots of the Asia Pacific. The fund was used to conserve biodiversity hotspots that provide habitat for iconic species such as Asian elephants, orangutans and the Sumatran rhino.

In 2001, HSI successfully gained a commitment from Senator Robert Hill to establish a national biodiversity hotspots program, eventually linked to a $10 million NHT fund accessible by landholders. Subsequently, HSI worked with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and Senator Meg Lees, securing $36 million towards an ongoing national biodiversity hotspots program. This program has led to the acquisition of Brooklyn Station in far north Queensland, added to the National Reserve System estate in the Wet Tropics and assisted private landholders conserve biodiversity in the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia.

The following were among the critical conservation projects funded through the Regional Natural Heritage Program. HSI was a member of the RNHP Taskforce that advised the Minister.

Building recognition and pride - the endemic botanic diversity of Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Community based marine conservation actions in the atoll of Ailuk, Marshall Islands: implementation of two marine sanctuaries through community decision making, capacity building, vocational training, awareness and education

Consolidating sustainability of the protection of biodiversity and the Golden headed Langur on Cat Ba Island, Vietnam